Anxiety Treatment for Veterans

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the US and affect over 40 million people (19.1%). Not only are anxiety disorders common in the general population, but they are also very very common in veterans.

According to the VA, there has been a 327% increase in anxiety disorders reported among the military between 2000 and 2012. The VA also found that 20% of veterans that served in Iraq and Afghanistan will experience acute anxiety, stress and/or depression.

Solara Mental Health in San Diego has contracted with VA insurance (TriWest), which allows us to provide affordable anxiety treatment services to veterans in need. Solara can provide transportation, housing, and other accommodations with authorization.

About Anxiety

Naturally, people tend to worry and feel anxious with daily tasks in life and this worry can provide motivation and doesn’t last long. People with an anxiety disorder, however, experience persistent worry and anxiety that affects most aspects of their life negatively.

Anxiety can become uncomfortable and stressful. All anxiety disorders consist of persistent, excessive worry during situations that are not threatening.

Here are some typical symptoms of anxiety:

• Excessive worry about daily decisions
• Restlessness and irritability
• Feeling on edge or tense
• Dreading the worst case scenario
• Sweating, tremors, and twitching
• Heart racing and difficulty breathing
• Dizziness and nausea

Veterans can suffer from several different types of anxiety. All anxiety disorders consist of persistent, excessive worry during situations that are not threatening.

The different types of anxiety are:

• Social anxiety – This anxiety can cause extreme fear and worry about social interactions. Social anxiety can keep people from participating in social activities like participating in discussions, attending events, and communicating with others.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – People who suffer from GAD tend to always worry and be anxious about daily life. This can start to affect everyday life as it becomes hard to concentrate on and complete tasks.
• Panic disorder – Panic attacks are a recurrent struggle with people who suffer from panic disorder. A panic attack is associated with heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and trembling. These panic attacks can severely limit and affect their life because during a panic attack people may feel like they are out of control and their life is at risk.
• Specific phobias – People with specific phobias have an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. At times these phobias can take over their life because of them trying to avoid the situation or object. The key to coping with these phobias is understanding when they get in the way of everyday life.

Although the causes of anxiety disorders are not known, there are certain risk factors that make a person more prone to developing them. In veterans, the constant stress of war and/or trauma makes them more susceptible to developing an anxiety disorder.

Here are additional risk factors:

• Personality – Personality traits of shyness, oversensitivity to criticism, fixation on details, and moral rigidness can make you more susceptible to anxiety disorders.
• Genetics – A history of anxiety or other mental health disorders in your family can put you more at risk for developing an anxiety disorder.
• Drug use and misuse – Drugs that contain caffeine or amphetamines are known to cause anxiety in some individuals.
• Medical conditions – Certain physical health issues can lead to anxiety like having a chronic illness that causes you to feel stressed in your daily life or having an illness that has challenging symptoms.

Treating Anxiety in Veterans

Anxiety treatment is important for successfully diminishing symptoms and finding recovery from this mental health disorder. Typically, anxiety disorders are treated with therapy and medication management.

At Solara Mental Health we offer medication management when appropriate as well as these four therapies to treat anxiety disorders:

• Individual therapy – A one-to-one session with a therapist that is a type of psychotherapy to help guide the veteran to a better understanding of themselves and their depression. A one-on-one psychotherapy (talk therapy) that is at the heart of all mental health treatment programs. The therapist helps the veteran learn more about themselves and teaches them new coping mechanisms to better manage their symptoms.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is used to manage your thoughts, perceptions, and gain control over your behaviors.
• Small group therapy – Group therapy sessions are led by one or two therapists and veterans are encouraged to share openly. Therapists guide and provide proven strategies for managing anxiety.
• Holistic therapies – Holistic therapies are used to restore mind-body wellness and promote lasting healing from your mental health disorders. We offer meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and horticulture therapy.

Transportation, Housing, & Accommodations for Vets

Solara Mental Health is able to provide transportation to and from its facilities in San Diego, CA for most of the TriWest covered states.

Along with transportation, Solara can provide long-term housing at its beautiful Pacific Beach, San Diego residences that are close to the treatment center. These housing accommodations can be provided for both inpatient and outpatient treatment that may follow inpatient treatment.

Veterans may remain in housing for as many weeks or months as the VA insurance authorizes. We often find that the VA authorizes a considerable length of stay, allowing us the ability to provide quality treatment for the amount of time needed to heal and recover.

View our facilities in Pacific Beach to get a preview of what you might expect when choosing Solara Mental Health as your care provider.

Veteran Anxiety Treatment in San Diego

Solara Mental Health in San Diego is focused on giving veterans a supportive and safe environment to recover from their anxiety disorders. Our mental health treatment facility recognizes that each veteran will have their own personal needs, and we will tailor their treatment plan to fit their needs.

Solara is contracted with the VA insurance (TriWest) in order to help veterans with their mental health needs, including anxiety. As long as authorization is approved, we provide housing, transportation, and accommodations.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about anxiety disorder treatment programs at Solara Mental health, contact us today.